A8 (classification)

For athletics competitions that use the IPC athletics classification system, this class competes in T46, F46 and T47.^[1][4][12] The extent of their below elbow amputation needs to be greater than a below wrist amputation or they are not eligible to compete in this class.^[13] The missing arm weight changes their running form by creating differences in rotation between hip and shoulder.^[12]

A study of was done comparing the performance of athletics competitors at the 1984 Summer Paralympics. It found there was no significant difference in performance in times between women in A6, A7 and A8 in the discus, women in A6, A7 and A8 in the shot put, women in the A6, A7 and A8 in the long jump, women in A6, A7 and A8 in the 100 meter race, women in A5, A6, A7 and A8 in the 100 meter race, men in the A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 and A9 in the discus, men in A6, A7 and A8 in the discus, men in A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 and A9 in the javelin, men in A6, A7 and A8 in the javelin, men in A8 and A9 in the shot put, men in A6, A7 and A8 in the high jump, men in A6, A7 and A8 in the long jump, men in A6, A7 and A8 in the 100 meter race, men in A7 and A8 in the 400 meter race, and men in A7 and A8 in the 1,500 meter race.^[14]

In general, track athletes with amputations in this class should be considerate of the surface they are running on, and avoid asphalt and cinder tracks.^[1]

There is a basketball variant called amputee basketball. It uses the ISOD classification system as to whom is eligible to participate, but it is open in terms of all eligible classes, including this one, can play. There is no point system for who is allowed on the floor at any given time like there is in wheelchair basketball.^[15]

People in this class tend to be classified in cycling events as LC1. The class is for cyclists with upper limb disabilities including amputations.^[5] Classification is handled by Union Cycliste Internationale.^[16]

One of the sports available to people in this class is amputee football. There are two variants of the game, one with 4 players a side and one with 7 players a side. In both variants, A2 and A4 players must be field players while A6 and A8 players must be goalkeepers. In the 4 person variant, there are two halves of 15 minutes each. In the 7 person variant, there are two halves of 25 minutes each.^[5]

People with amputations are eligible to compete in swimming at the Paralympic Games.^[17][18] A8 swimmers may be found in several classes. These include S8, and S9.^[3] People with below the wrist amputations may be eligible to compete in swimming.^[13] Prior to the 1990s, this class was often grouped with other amputee classes in swimming competitions, including the Paralympic Games.^[14]

S8 and S9 swimmers in this class have similar start times to people with legs amputations in S8 to S10 classes.^[19] Paralympic S9 swimmers in this class can get water entry distance off the block comparable to Olympic athletes. S8 swimmers in this class have much shorter points of entry into the water off the block.^[19] Compared to able bodied swimmers, swimmers in this class have a shorter stroke length and increased stroke rate.^[19] Because their legs are their greatest strength, they modify their entry into the water to take advantage of this.^[19]

There are a number of sports to people in this class, including lawn bowls. A8 lawn bowlers can be classified as LB3.^[20] They can also play badminton, where they are classified as STU5. The class is for standing players with minimal arm impairment.^[20] Another sport open to people in this class is sitzball, the precursor to sitting volleyball. It is open to A1 to A9 classified players along with anyone who might be classified as "les autres" or who have lesser amputations that would not qualify them for ISOD classification. It is not open to people with spinal cord injuries. Play is open, with no requirements as to which types of disabilities are on the court at any time.^[20] Ten pin bowling is also open to people in this class, where they compete in the TPB10 class.^[21] Rowing is another sport open to people with amputations. In 1991, the first internationally accepted adaptive rowing classification system was established and put into use. People from this class were initially classified as A2 for people with double amputations.^[22]

Classification is often based on the anatomical nature of the amputation.^[2][23] The classification system takes several things into account when putting people into this class. These include which limbs are effected, how many limbs are effected, and how much of a limb is missing.^[10][24]

For this class, classification generally has four phase. The first stage of classification is a health examination. For amputees, this is often done on site at a sports training facility or competition. The second stage is observation in practice, the third stage is observation in competition and the last stage is assigning the sportsperson to a relevant class.^[13] Sometimes the health examination may not be done on site because the nature of the amputation could cause not physically visible alterations to the body.^[25]

Classification can be sport specific. For athletics, the training portion of the observation may include being asked to demonstrate their skills in athletics, such as running, jumping or throwing.^[26]